Salted Caramel Cookie Bars have a buttery chocolate chip cookie base layered with gooey caramel, walnuts, and a sprinkle of coarse salt. They bake into thick, chewy bars with plenty of sweet and salty flavor in every bite.
These are the kind of cookie bars I like making when I need an easy dessert that feeds a crowd. The caramel layer makes them extra gooey, while that little sprinkle of salt keeps them from being overly sweet.
Why I Love This Recipe
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Caramel Sauce: Use your favorite jarred caramel sauce for the gooey caramel layer.
- Butter & Sugars: Unsalted butter, white sugar, and brown sugar create a rich, chewy cookie base.
- Eggs & Vanilla: Add moisture and flavor to the cookie dough.
- Flour, Baking Soda & Salt: Give the cookie bars their structure.
- Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet chocolate chips add plenty of chocolate throughout the bars.
- Walnuts: Add a little crunch and nutty flavor.
- Coarse Salt: Sprinkle over the caramel to give the bars that sweet-and-salty finish.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.
Make the Cookie Dough: Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla. Mix in the eggs, then gradually add the dry ingredients. Fold in half of the chocolate chips and walnuts.
Layer the Bars: Press half of the cookie dough into the prepared pan. Drizzle with half of the caramel sauce, then press the remaining cookie dough over the top.
Add the Toppings: Drizzle with more caramel and sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chips, walnuts, and coarse salt. Reserve some caramel for finishing.
Bake: Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for about 1 hour, then drizzle with the reserved caramel before slicing.
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Line the Pan: Parchment paper makes the bars much easier to lift out and slice.
- Press the Layers Evenly: This helps the cookie bars bake evenly.
- Don’t Overbake: Remove them when the edges are golden so the centers stay soft and chewy.
- Cool Before Cutting: Let the bars cool for about an hour for cleaner slices.
Storage
Store Salted Caramel Cookie Bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Desserts I Love
Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Salted Caramel Cookie Bars are thick, chewy chocolate chip cookie bars layered with gooey caramel, walnuts, and coarse salt.
Ingredients
- 12 oz jar caramel sauce
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1¼ cups light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup walnuts
- Coarse salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.
- In a separate bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until combined.
- Mix in the eggs, then gradually add the dry ingredients.
- Fold in half of the chocolate chips and half of the walnuts.
- Press half of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan.
- Drizzle half of the caramel sauce over the dough.
- Add the remaining cookie dough and gently press it over the caramel.
- Drizzle with additional caramel and top with the remaining chocolate chips, walnuts, and coarse salt. Reserve some caramel for serving.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is set.
- Cool for about 1 hour before slicing. Drizzle with the reserved caramel.
Notes
Don’t overbake the bars. Letting them cool completely also makes them much easier to slice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 405Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 179mgCarbohydrates: 73gFiber: 3gSugar: 42gProtein: 6g
One Comment